Fred Anderson (b. Monroe, Louisiana, March 22, 1929) is an American jazz saxophonist who resides in Chicago, Illinois. Fred Anderson grew up in the Southern U.S. and learned to play the saxophone in his youth. Anderson moved his family to Evanston, Illinois in the 1940's; his son, Eugene Anderson, is a talented drummer.

Anderson was one of the founders of the AACM and is still an important member of the musical collective. His partner for many years was the Chicago underground jazz legend, trumpeter Billy Brimfield. Fred appears on the seminal Delmark recording of Joseph Jarman, "As If It Were The Seasons," with Fred's composition "Little Fox Run" featured on the album. Anderson plays a powerful tenor saxophone, blowing quick scales in a distinctive, forward-bent posture.

In 1983, Fred Anderson founded the Velvet Lounge in Chicago. This jazz and improvised music venue has been a showcase for AACM musicians and improvised music enthusiasts for years. The club expanded and relocated in the summer of 2006.